Fans of the Caped Crusader will want to tune into the premiere of The Batman on Sky Cinema this December but that isn’t the only big movie making its Sky Cinema debut. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore will also be premiering over the festive period. The Duke, The Bad Guys, and The Amazing Maurice are just some of the other movies available to watch this month but if you’re looking to dive into a new show this Christmas, you might want to check out Rosie Malloy Gives Up Everything, a promising comedy series starring Sheridan Smith.
Check out this month’s highlights below and then keep scrolling to take a look at some of the other titles landing on Sky and Now TV this December.
Please note: This list is correct at the time of writing but more titles will likely be revealed over the coming days.
2nd December
The Batman (2022)
Robert Pattinson is the man behind Batman’s mask in director Matt Reeves’ more grounded take on the Caped Crusader that places its focus on the detective side of the DC hero. As we stated in our review, this is less a bombastic comic book movie and more a dark serial killer thriller, so this isn’t as fun as some of the earlier Batman movies. That doesn’t mean it isn’t any good, however, as this is still a gripping watch, largely thanks to the talented cast, which includes Paul Dano as The Riddler, Colin Farrell as Penguin, and Pattinson as the wealthy vigilante.
3rd December
Together Together (2021)
Patti Harrison stars as Anna, a 20-something loner, who is hired to become the gestational surrogate for Matt (Ed Helms), a single man in his 40s who wants to have a child without getting married. According to the synopsis of this comedy-drama, their unexpected relationship “will come to challenge their perceptions of connection, boundaries, friendship and the particulars of love.”
Branson
This new documentary series charts the life of entrepreneur Richard Branson and how he managed to become a millionaire at the age of 22 after the launch of Virgin Records. Through home video footage and interviews with the people who know him best, we will get to learn more about the man who cares as much about his philanthropic pursuits as he does about making money.
7th December
Rosie Malloy Gives Up Everything: Season 1
Sheridan Smith stars as Manchester lass Rosie Malloy, a woman who realises her addictions to chocolate, alcohol, smoking, and caffeine (among other things) are destroying her work life, family, and friendships. Will she be able to give up everything that she has become addicted to? And will she become a better person if she does? These are just two of the questions being raised in this Sky Original comedy series.
Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive
Spike Milligan was a comedy legend but beneath his comic persona was a man who was plagued with crippling mental illness and insecurity. With the use of letters, photographs, objects, and recordings, this documentary aims to shed light on the man who was much more than the person that made viewers laugh with his special brand of ridiculous comedy.
9th December
This Is Christmas (2022)
In this festive romantic comedy, a young couple’s Christmas celebrations are derailed when the train they take for their daily commute breaks down in the middle of the countryside. Will they be able to maintain the spirit of Christmas, despite their unfortunate predicament? With the help of their fellow passengers, the chances seem likely. Alfred Enoch, Kaya Scodelario, Joanna Scanlan and Timothy Spall star in this new British movie.
10th December
The Nan Movie (2022)
The critics hated this movie and the director seemed to have issues with it too, as she had her name removed from the credits! Still, if you’re a fan of Catherine Tate’s iconic Nan character, you might gain some enjoyment from this big-screen outing for the cantankerous old pensioner which follows the road trip she takes with her son to visit her estranged sister.
11th December
Inbetween Girl (2021)
In this coming-of-age tale, teen artist Angie Chen (Emma Galbraith) turns her attention to the popular heartthrob at school as a welcome distraction from her parent’s divorce. Before too long they start to hook up but as the hunk is already attached to somebody else, things are going to get a little messy. This might sound like a typical teen movie but with plot points relating to racial identity, this has more to say than similar movies of its kind.
16th December
The Amazing Maurice (2022)
This animated movie, which is based on Terry Pratchett’s ‘The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents,’ features an all-star voice cast including Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, Himesh Patel, David Thewlis and Gemma Arterton. It tells the story of Maurice, a goofy streetwise cat, who hires a gang of talking rats and a young lad called Keith to help him with his latest moneymaking scheme. All goes well until they journey to the town of Bad Blintz and discover something sinister is going on beneath the city’s streets.
17th December
Firestarter (2022)
This second big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is a major disappointment, more so because it comes from Keith Thomas, the director of the critically acclaimed horror piece, The Vigil. You will already know the premise of this movie if you have read the book or seen the original movie: It’s the story of a young girl who can set things on fire using the power of her mind. She goes on the run with her father, played here by Zac Efron, but rather than being an exciting and explosive thriller, this is a bit of a damp squib that failed to ignite much of a spark with film critics.
20th December
I Hate Suzie Too
Billie Piper returns as former child star turned actress Suzie Pickles in this 3-part special that focuses on her attempts to rebrand her image and improve her life after the calamitous series of events that took place in the last season.
Will she get her life back on track? Or will the trappings of fame continue to be the cause of her downfall? Fans of the show don’t have too long to wait to find out the answers.
23rd December
Der Kaiser (2022)
The career of legendary German soccer player and manager Franz Beckenbauer is the focus of this new biopic that takes place against the backdrop of the World Cup tournaments where he originally achieved fame. This might be the perfect movie to add to your watchlist if you need something to fill the gap when this year’s World Cup tournament comes to an end.
24th December
The Duke (2020)
Jim Broadbent stars in this highly enjoyable movie as the real-life taxi driver who, in 1961, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. He then sent ransom notes saying that he would only return the painting if the government invested in more care for the elderly, including free access to TV. This is an uplifting story about one man’s attempt to make the world a better place, despite the dubious nature of his methods.
25th December
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
The Fantastic Beasts movies have been less than fantastic so it’s little wonder that this instalment is likely to be the final entry in the series. In this one, Albus Dumbledore (Judd Law), Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), and the rest of their wizarding crew (and one brave Muggle) stand up to powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) in a bid to thwart his dangerous ambitions. This sounds thrilling but unfortunately, the movie is never as magical or as exciting as it should have been, so you might well fall asleep soon after putting this movie on after your Christmas dinner.
26th December
Boxing Day (2021)
Inspired by the real-life experiences of the writer, director, and star of this movie, Aml Ameen, this festive comedy-drama tells the story of Melvin, a British author living in America, who returns home to his eccentric Afro-Caribbean family at Christmas with his American fiancée Lisa in tow. Unfortunately, his former girlfriend Georgia, who is now an international pop star, is back on the scene and this creates tension within his current relationship.
The Bad Guys (2022)
Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, and Awkwafina are among the starry voice cast of this well-received animated movie that is based on a popular series of children’s books. It takes place in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals co-exist, with the latter group including the cool-headed Mr. Wolf who orchestrates a series of heists with his animal gang. When their latest heist goes awry, Mr. Wolf contemplates changing his ways and becoming a good guy. Will his gang follow suit? If you have read the books or seen the movie, you will already know the outcome of this enjoyable tale.
31st December
Hounded (2022)
A group of young thieves start to regret their decision to rob a stately home when the aristocratic homeowner, Lady Renwick (Samantha Bond), ambushes and tasers them. She then makes them the subjects of a hunting game that causes them to run for their lives, rather like the foxes who are usually the ones forced to take part in this kind of barbaric sport. We have seen movies like this one before but as this is as much a class satire as a chase thriller, it manages to stand apart from others in the pack.
Also Streaming…
4th December
Prancer: A Christmas Tale (2022)
7th December
New Amsterdam: Season 5
11th December
Predators
12th December
A League Of Their Own Christmas Special
15th December
The Russell Howard Hour Christmas Special
16th December
Never Mind The Buzzcocks Christmas Special
18th December
Hell Hath No Fury (2021)